Youngsters and Cell Phones

It can be tricky for youngsters to use the cell phone responsibly when they are getting cell phones at a such a young age. Parents must teach their children how to handle this privilege. A few precautions must be taken to insure that your child is kept safe from harm. Most parents agree it’s best to start with a prepaid plan. Explain to the child how many minutes they have to last, and  for how long, unless you can afford a huge phone  bill. If they run out of minutes, that’s it until the next period. Make strict rules about appropriate phone use. Unless you want children chatting through the night, it’s a good idea to shut off phones at bed time. Make and stick to strict rules until your child understands that rules must be followed.

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Mobile Internet is best left off until your kids are old enough to know how to handle it. It is expensive and risky. Call your carrier and ask how to block the Internet. If and when you do allow your child to connect to the Internet go to your Webb carrier’s site to turn on age appropriate filtering. A fully loaded phone should not be included until your older teen has a paying job so he can afford it. It’s a good time to teach him that a cell phone is a privilige and not a right.

Be very careful about giving your child a phone with a camera. Kids may not realize that exposing themselves or someone else might result in legal action. They may think it is funny and not understand the seriousness of what they are doing. Also, your child might be bullied, or be a bully herself with texting. Have a talk with your child and be sure she understands the consequence of such actions.

Check her phone calls. Know who is calling and who she calls. You might think your child would never do anything wrong, but parents are surprised every day by things kids will do. Tell her to begin with that you will check without warning, then do it. If you find anything inappropriate take the phone away for a month, and hand out the punishment. Don’t let her win the point that phones are private. Tell her that as long as she is underage nothing is private. You are responsible for the underage child’s actions.

Let the child know how it’s going to be before you give her a phone. Let her know there are rules to be followed for the privilege of having a cell phone. Enforce the rules and keep your child safe from harm, and harmless to others.

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